Factory amp Q? (Moon & Tunes)

[samsonite]

Does the factory amp hindering sound quality? Like, good music goes in, crap comes out?

I've upgraded everything except the factory Moon and Tunes amp. My JBL GTO component speakers run fine with the power of my Kenwood HU and the factory amp. They get louder then i ever need them to.

I'm wondering though if i upgraded the amp to an aftermarket 4 channel amp i would gain better sound quality and clarity? Or maybe i should just bypass the amp all together? I think i can drive my speakers with the HU alone.

here is what i have so far.
JBL GTO628
JBL GTO19t
Alpine Amp MRP-m500 w/ Infinity Reference 8" sub




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[vibrologist]

Did you sound proof the door skins and the trunk area and the floor? I found it hugely improves sound clarity.

check this thread by derf: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=40421

[Derf]

I'm wondering though if i upgraded the amp to an aftermarket 4 channel amp i would gain better sound quality and clarity? Or maybe i should just bypass the amp all together? I think i can drive my speakers with the HU alone.
.

What Kenwood HU are you using? In my case I hooked the door speakers up directly to the head unit. No issues and power to spare. The OEM amp is only slightly more powerful than the most head units. The only advantage of the OEM amp, is it can run dedicated power to the rear sub, giving you 6 channels of power instead of a typical head units 4 channels of power. If you have the budget and a free weekend, adding sound dampening material to the doors makes a big difference.

[samsonite]

Kenwood KDC-HD548U Peak: 50 watts x 4 channels, RMS: 22 watts x 4 channels

Right now I feel like i could blow my speakers if i maxed out the volume. Or my ear drums. So maybe i'll just bypass the amp.

I'm looking into sound deadening right now. So much info out there. Any recommendations for value?

[basist4]

anyway to bypass the amp w/out running new wires from H/U to all 4 door speakers?

Just last week my rear speakers quit completely...not sure if the aftermarket H/U lost its rear channel or there is an issue with the factory amp.

I need to dig through the wiring diagrams and find the pinout for the amp input...thinking I should be able to just put a few jumpers in to complete the circuit. That should narrow down which piece is at fault.

[joatmon]

I need to dig through the wiring diagrams and find the pinout for the amp input...thinking I should be able to just put a few jumpers in to complete the circuit. That should narrow down which piece is at fault.

if you need it, here's a pic that shows the amp in/out

[basist4]

I'm now lost...

I used some jumper wires and was able to determine all signals (Front and Rear) from the stereo to the 25-pin connector at the amp are good.

I could take any signal from the 25-pin and when I touched the terminals for the front speakers on the 8-pin connector from the amp...front speakers worked.

Take the same signals and apply to either rear terminals (Rear speaker terminals are split...L Rear is on the 8-pin and R Rear is on 25-pin) and neither speaker works at all...completely dead!

is there another connector leaving from the amp harness that both rear speakers use that I don't know about?
Both rear speakers quit at the same time, so there has to be a common point that both rear speakers use...

I did replace both rear speakers w/ aftermarket ones about 6-months ago...but why would they both quit/die at the exact same time?!?!